Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38
Matthew 13:47-53

Reflection:

The Kingdom of heaven is like….

Today’s passage is from the great part of Matthew’s Gospel during which Jesus opens his “mouth in parables.”  He explains what his Father’s Kingdom is like, putting it in terms more people could understand.  In fact, it’s part of the same narrative that we’ve been hearing from these last three Sundays of Ordinary Time. 

It kind of reminds me of the little sayings, “Life is like…”  I think many of us can immediately recall what is probably the most famous, made so by the 1994 movie “Forrest Gump.”  Forrest says, “Life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get.”  I like these two, both of them told to me by an aging jazz musician, living and playing on the streets of Hollywood when I knew her.  She would say, “Paul, life is like a phonograph record.  You’ve just got to get in the groove,” and “Life is like an onion – you have to peel off one layer at a time, and sometimes, you weep.”

Of them all, though, Monday’s Gospel passage was one of Jesus’ favorite of explanations.  The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed… the smallest of seeds, and yet it grows into the largest of plants, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in it’s branches.  -Matthew 13:31-32

There is just so much depth here.  At first glance, this may seem to be about God spreading his arms in order to save and give shelter to us, the little sparrows on which he has his eye always.  And have you ever seen a mustard seed?  They are nearly microscopic (well, to my crazy eyes they’re pretty hard to see). 

But add the next verse, and I think you’ll see what hits me like a ton of bricks.  “The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed with wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”  (Matthew 13:33)

The whole batch.

And in today’s Gospel continues as part of this wonderful section of Matthew’s Gospel, and includes a verse which, I feel, drives the point home. 

It reads,

The kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul
it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets.  -Matthew 13:47-48

Every kind of fish has a chance.  Even the bad ones get caught in the net with the good.  All the flour is mixed until the whole batch is leavened.  That gives me such hope, both for me and you, but also for our society and world today.  It doesn’t matter if we’re good or bad, broken, repaired, towing baggage of the past… we’re all fertile ground.

So, planting the seeds, gathering the wheat, leavening the bread… Growing the kingdom.  It’s all about making the most of the God who lives in us and bringing that gift to our area of the vineyard. 

Sure, it’s just a small seed… but that’s only the start.  Yeast, yes – but alone it can do nothing. 

It takes more than one thing to build the kingdom.  We need rich soil, water, sunlight, weeding, tending, nurturing, caring.  Little by little, the branches will grow.  From those humble, minuscule beginnings, an enormous life will emerge.  From a tiny seed to the mighty Sequoia.  It’s got to start somewhere, and it needs help to flourish.  And we’re all, each one of us, called to tend and care for the seedlings in our hearts, and the hearts of each person we meet… and especially the hearts of those people we don’t want to care for.  The homeless, the outcast, the sick, the family member who hurt us, the spouse who betrayed us, those who are “different” (whatever that means). 

So, today, how about we all let God plant that seed of his Kingdom in our hearts right now? 
How about we become the fertile ground and the yeast, the gardener and the caretaker?
How about we do that for others, too?

This way, we can watch the Kingdom grow.

Does it matter if we’re perfect?  The scripture says No.  And have no fear, for as it is written in our first reading today, “My angel will go before you.”  (Exodus 32:34)

Dear God of all,
thank you for the gift of the seed.
Grant us the grace to tend the garden of our hearts,
and especially the hearts of all the faces of Christ we meet day to day. Amen.

Paul Puccinelli is Director of Liturgy & Music at St. Rita Parish in Sierra Madre, California, and a member of the retreat team at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center.

Scripture:

Exodus 34:29-35
Matthew 13:44-46

Reflection:

In the last several years, I attended three family weddings, and each time, someone has commented on the couple’s facial expressions during the ceremony. Often, they have used the word “radiant” to describe the couple’s faces as they spoke their vows to each other.

In today’s first reading from Exodus, we hear that Moses’ face became radiant “when he conversed with the Lord.” Moses was face to face with God. Like the newlyweds, he was face to face with Love.

When we are aglow with love, we do things that under other circumstances would be impractical or even impossible, things considered sacrificial. Jesus speaks of this in today’s Gospel. In Jesus’ parables, a person searching for fine pearls finds one, and sells all they have to purchase the pearl. We hear about another person who finds a treasure in a field, “and out of joy goes and sells all they have and buys that field.” Out of joy, Jesus says…. Selling all is not a sacrifice for the people in these parables; it is simply letting go of everything for the sake of the relationship that is valued above all else.

Moses risked his life, endured long periods away from his family, and was often misunderstood by his own people—all for the sake of his relationship with Yahweh God.

Newlyweds do not know what the future holds, and joyfully enter the unknown together; even though their commitment may be tested by illness, financial misfortune, misunderstandings, and loss.

Today’s readings bring some questions for us to ponder:

1. For what or whom would I joyfully “sell all”?
2. How wholehearted am I in my commitment as a disciple of Jesus?
3. What do I need to let go of, in order to live more joyfully and wholeheartedly?

Patty Gillis is a retired Pastoral Minister. She serves on the Board of Directors at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan. Patty is currently a member of the Laudato Si’ Team and the Passionist Solidarity Network.

Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

Scripture:

Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5-9, 28
John 11:19-27

Reflection:

I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.  –John 11:25

Today’s reading from the Book of Exodus speaks of how the people prayed in the wilderness and describes God’s forgiveness. The first reading may seem disjointed, but it connects two sections of Exodus. It mentions the “meeting tent” where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. Moses’ time at the tent is a liturgical ritual where all the people stand outside of their own tents and worship as they saw the column of cloud, representing God’s presence. This showed their respect for God. At the end of that passage, Joshua, who would later lead the people into the Promised Land, did not step out of his tent. Was this a sign of disrespect? Perhaps, as the writer of Exodus then describes God’s mercy for “wickedness and crime and sin”. The passage then ends with Moses staying in the “meeting tent” fasting for forty days and nights. This action is related to atonement for sin, possibly atoning for the sin of the people. The writer of Exodus appears to reassure readers that God is merciful and forgives human shortcomings in worship and keeping the Covenant.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus and Martha engage in a conversation in which Martha expresses her belief in “the resurrection on the last day.” Her final statement is that she believes Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” In the Gospels, accounts often describe healings as occurring through an individual’s faith or the faith of others. Martha, who is depicted in the Gospel of Luke as being occupied with tasks, is shown in the Gospel of John as having faith that Jesus can heal her brother or raise him from the dead. Jesus replies to her with one of the “I Am” statements. In this context, Martha acknowledges Jesus’ identity, and the narrative describes Jesus demonstrating care and compassion for her and Lazarus.

The exchange between Martha and Jesus may be considered a form of Covenant dialogue, wherein Martha expresses her faith and Jesus responds with the assurance of eternal life. Both Martha and the Apostles, while sincere in their beliefs, continued to seek a deeper understanding of the message presented to them. Unlike Moses, who was not permitted to fulfill certain roles, Jesus is identified as the one chosen by God to liberate individuals from sin and offer eternal life. Making declarations of faith, actively listening for divine response, and engaging in personal covenant dialogue can provide meaningful opportunities to strengthen one’s relationship with God and enhance spiritual growth.

Today’s readings present complex imagery and multiple dimensions of the development of the relationship described throughout Salvation history. The scriptural passages provide an opportunity for a more profound comprehension of themes such as mercy, compassion, and love, highlighting the significance of faith and worship in fostering this understanding.

Linda Schork is a theology teacher at Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34
Matthew 13:31-35

Reflection:

Our black sisters and brothers often begin their prayer time with this affirming reminder:

                God is good all the time and
                All the time God is good!

Psalm 160, today’s responsorial psalm reiterates this message in these words:

                Give thanks to God, for God is good!

In the past week I attended three funerals of people who believed in and lived out this message of God’s goodness.  Fr. M served the archdiocese for over twenty years as a good priest who followed the example set forth by Christ, ministering to the sick and dying, the lonely, and the outcast.  His parishioners shared stories of how his quiet, gentle presence at the bedside of their sick mother gave them strength and hope. He gave hope to those who struggled, even while he struggled with his own pain and suffering, which led to his untimely death.

“Sr. A” served her religious community for over 60 years.  Over those years, she ministered to countless individuals suffering with all sorts of hardships and trials.  Her community and family spoke about her welcoming presence and loving heart for all she encountered. They saw in her the goodness and love of God shining through.  The disease of Alzheimer’s took away her memory, but her legacy of hope and kindness will live on in those she touched over the years.

‘M’ served as a lay ecclesial minister, teacher, pastoral associate, wife, mother, and grandmother in several parishes and schools for over 40 years.  The homilist at her Celebration of Life service recounted how ‘M’ helped him to be a better priest and person with her God-like perseverance, persistence and all-around faithfulness and goodness.  She was a colleague of mine for over twenty years and I know I am a better person because of her love and caring ways. The disease of Alzheimer’s also took away her ability to function as she would have liked, but her life of service to family and the people of God will long be remembered.

By the week’s end, I was weary of the sadness of saying goodbye to these good and holy servants of God.  At the same time, it has been good to be reminded of God’s goodness and love in showering upon us the grace and renewed sense of hope that comes with knowing we are loved and cared for by a

                God who is good all the time, and   
                All the time, God is good!

Let us rejoice in the goodness of God!  May we follow the example of Fr. M, Sr. A and M in showing the goodness of God in how we live our lives.

Theresa Secord is a retired Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Genesis 18:20-32
Colossians 2:12-14
Luke 11:1-13

Reflection:

When I reflected on the Scripture readings for Sunday, I was reminded once again of our human tendency to try to make God’s will fit what we want. But thanks be to God, God doesn’t operate the way we usually do! We hear this in our second reading from Colossians (2:12-14): “And even when you were dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross.”

How do we respond to such love and mercy? In our Gospel reading (Luke 11:1-13), Jesus’ disciples ask Him to teach them how to pray. And so, we hear Luke’s account of the Lord’s Prayer. And Jesus begins the prayer with what ought to be our first response to God’s overwhelming love: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.” In the face of such love and mercy, we are to humble ourselves before God in praise, and await the fulfillment of God’s kingdom. Jesus continues: “Give us each day our daily bread.” We are to acknowledge that even the necessities of life are gifts from God.

Out of praise and thanksgiving for God’s love for us, flows our response to the rest of God’s beloved. Jesus continues with what I think is the most challenging part of the prayer: “…and forgive our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us.” Wow! Or maybe more accurately, “Ow!” Asking God’s forgiveness involves being willing to forgive others! In these divided times, forgiveness doesn’t seem to be too popular, even though it is admired from a distance. In our first reading from Genesis (18:20-32), God is deciding what to do with Sodom and Gomorrah, and Abraham pleads with God to spare those places even if there are only ten innocent people there, and God states that such mercy will be shown. I find Abraham’s pleading for mercy in sharp contrast to what we see a lot of today. There seems to be a rush to condemnation of the “other,” even to the point of painting a whole group of people with the same brush based on the actions of a few. But again, if we recognize God’s mercy toward us, could we not open our hearts to show mercy to others, and work for justice for everyone? Or have we decided that mercy and justice are not an option?

To follow God’s will takes persistence in prayer and openness. After Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, He tells a parable about persistence. At times it seemed to me that Jesus was proposing that we nag God until we get what we want. But we don’t need to nag God at all. God knows what we need better than we do. I think the persistence called for is persistence in going to God in prayer in every situation; to be persistent in seeking God’s will, and to be persistent in doing God’s will, trusting that God will give us what we need. This is how we can understand what Jesus means when He says: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Later on, after Jesus gives some human examples of this with a father and his child, Jesus then says: “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?” Note that Jesus says, “how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit,” not “give the fancy car,” or “the big mansion.” No, the more persistent we are in prayer, the more persistent we are in recognizing God’s love and mercy, and the more persistent we are in seeking to do God’s will, the more we will seek and ask for what is really important, and God will give it to us.

May God continue to give us what we need, and may we always seek to do God’s will.

Fr. Phil Paxton, CP, is the Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Birmingham, and St. Mary’s Parish in Fairfield, Alabama. He is the Local Superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Virgin Mary

Scripture:

Exodus 24:3-8
Matthew 13:24-30

Reflection:

Don’t you admire the bold confidence of the people when Moses, freshly returned from Mount Sinai where he received the Word of the Lord and the Ten Commandments, shares with them all that the Lord had bestowed upon him? They all responded with a unified voice, “We will do everything that the Lord has commanded us. We will heed and obey all that the Lord has said.” So confident, so certain, yet utterly untrue!

This doesn’t mean that good intentions aren’t valuable. They are. However, there are always tempting distractions, competing desires, or personal limitations that can derail those good intentions. What’s remarkable, though, is that God never gives up on us. We need the assurance that, even though we may not be perfect, we are forgiven.

This feast day of Sts. Joachim and Anne offers us the opportunity to witness how parents can embody that same love of God. While we may not know much about the legendary parents of Mary, Mother of Jesus, we believe that her parents, whoever they may have been, provided both the structure and rules that parents are expected to impose, tempered by the forgiveness that follows our transgressions and lapses. This forgiveness liberates us to draw closer to God and receive His love. This is holiness. The notion that we must be perfect is a significant obstacle to becoming holy.

In today’s gospel passage from St. Matthew, Jesus encourages his disciples to be patient with the weeds that grow alongside the wheat. The parable of the sowing of the seed is not about a perfect harvest. There will be a time to separate the weeds from the wheat, but we can’t lose sight of the wheat because of the weeds. We can’t lose sight of God’s love because of our sin and imperfections.

Robert Hotz is a consultant with American City Bureau, Inc. and was the Director of The Passion of Christ: The Love That Compels Campaign for Holy Cross Province.

Feast of St. James, Apostle

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 4:7-15
Matthew 20:20-28

Reflection:

A Countercultural Baptismal Commitment

Years ago, I was directing a parish mission in the northern part of the Archdiocese of Detroit named St. Mary’s. The pastor was an intense and zealous minister who loved his people, and who believed that our faith is passed on best through the formation of “Small Christian Communities”.  I thoroughly enjoyed conversations with him around the kitchen table — his stories, his vision of Church — and I clearly remember a phrase etched into the granite above the main entrance doorway of the Church: “There are no volunteers here at St. Mary’s. We simply take our Baptismal commitment seriously.”

Today’s Feast of St. James challenges me in a similar way. The world of St. Paul and St. Matthew wasn’t unlike our own: persecution, confusion, manipulation, heartbreaking violence and oppression. All of this seems more than our fragile minds and bodies — our earthen vessels — can endure.

And, according to Matthew, the community of disciples is at risk of being pulled into that culture, driven by the desire to be the first, to be admired and honored by others, the same temptations that Jesus resisted from the devil when he was in the desert for forty days: power, possessions, prestige.

To be successful and influential in today’s world, many management trainers or motivational speakers urge their audiences to develop their “killer instincts.”  Jesus, however, commands a counterculture, seizing countless opportunities to offer a powerful teaching on humility. “You want to be great?” questions Jesus, “Then change your attitude.”

Today might be that opportunity for “We simply take our Baptismal commitment seriously.”

Fr. Jack Conley, CP, is engaged in preaching parish missions and retreats, and serves as local superior of St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b
Matthew 13:10-17

Reflection:

But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.  -Matthew 13:17

The other day, I heard that the average time it takes to see your primary physician is three weeks.   Jesus loved to see Himself as a physician.  Approximately one-fourth of the Gospels is devoted to Jesus’ healing.  We must see Him a whole lot more than once every three weeks! The beautiful truth is that Jesus is close, intimately close, 24/7!  But we are all too often not very close to Him. 

Without grace, we cannot contact Him!  Our hearts and minds are totally incapable of creating a relationship with Him without His revelation to us.   “Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” JN 14:6 And even more forcefully: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me drags him; JN 6:44  

St. Augustine speaks eloquently of our struggle to experience this beautiful presence of Jesus.  “O supreme and unapproachable light! O whole and blessed truth, how far art thou from me (my experience), who am so near to thee! How far removed art thou from my vision, though I am so near to thine! Everywhere thou art wholly present, and I see thee not. In thee I move, and in thee I have my being; and I cannot come to thee. Thou art within me, and about me, and I feel thee not.” 

Dear Lord, gift me your mercy and faith so I can receive the wonderful present of Yourself!  Open my eyes that I might see You. Enlarge my heart that it can receive You!

But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.  -Matthew 13:17

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.